Controller mechanism for explosion-engines.



O. SCHMIDT.

CONTROLLER MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1906.

Patented May 27, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. D c.

outrun STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SCHMIDT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOTHE PEERLESS MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFOHIO.

CONTROLLER MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES SCHMIDT, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in ControllerMechanism for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The electrical ignition system of an explosion engine ordinarilyincludes a pr1- mary circuit and its generator, an induction coil, aspark plug, and a controller for making and breaking the primary circuitat the proper times in respect to the position of the engine piston.

This invention is an improved circuit controller for such an ignitionsystem.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction, and toinsure the performance of the functions of the controller, and to renderit more durable.

The invention may be summarized as the combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and definitely pointed out in the claims.

On the drawings 1 is a vertical central section on the line 1, 1 of Fig.2 through the mechanism embodying the present invention, in the bestform known to me. Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section on line 2, 2of Fig. 1 over the brush chamber. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinalsection of the upper end of the controller shaft and adjacent parts.Fig. 4 is a plan view of a collar, which is secured onto the upper endof the upper controller shaft.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents a casing which is in theform of a hollow column having an inner chamber a and designed to beheld in a. vertical position as shown and affording bearing support fora shaft D. On the upper end of the column A is a casing cup L, which isopen at the top; and a spring metal cap Z is provided for closing thisend. In the bottom of this cup the circuit-terminal plates J aresecured, and insulated from each other and the casing. These terminalplates are arranged in a circle around the axis of the shaft D, whichdrives the controller through suitable connections from the shaft of theengine with which the device is associated. There are as many of theseplates as required or desired, and there are as many binding posts Vconnected with equally Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 6, 1906.

Patented May 27,1913. Serial No. 337,695.

spaced terminal plates as there are engine cylinders to be servedthereby. In the pres ent case there are four of these binding posts Vconnected with four equally spaced terminal plates. The plates Jintermediate of those with which the binding posts are connected, arenot included in any circuit, and might be made of insulated material ifdesired.

A brush carrying arm M is secured to the upper end of the shaft member Dwithin this cup. This arm extends to both sides of the shaft, and in oneend of said arm there is a tubular brush holder M through which a brushN is movably held. A rat-trap spring P secured to the arm bears upon thetop of the brush N and presses it down against the terminal plates. Oneend of this spring is connected with a vertically adjustable screw Rcarried by the other end of said arm, whereby, the tension of the springmay be varied.

It is necessary that the arm M be rigidly secured to the shaft sectionD, and that it be accurately positioned. To accomplish this result, adisk T is fixed to the upper end of said shaft section and this diskcontains a plurality of holes 2?. In the arm M a pinm is fixed; and thispin may be inserted into any one of these holes,and then this arm may beheld down by a nut (Z on the end of ti e shaft section.

In devices of this sort the secondary electric circuits are commonlygrounded by being connected with metallic parts of the machine frame. Inthe present construction it is intended that the controller shaft Dshall be electrically connected with the casing. It has been found,however, in analogous structures, that where the current has to passthrough lubricated bearings the electrical connection is not verysatisfactory. To provide an electrical connection between the shaft Dand the casing, of such character that it does not include oiledsurfaces, will greatly reduce the resistance; and with this end in viewI have provided, upon the side of the casing, a screw threaded openinginto which is screwed a guide casing S carrying a plunger Q and a springr for pressing it inward. This plunger is made of metal, is included inthe secondary circuit and bearing against the shaft section D serves toefficiently connect said shaft electrically with the casing A.

The cup-shaped upper end of the casing is a desirable structuralcharacteristic, because it may be partly filled with oil, which willcover the terminal plates and the lower end of the brush. This willpartly reduce sparking between the controller sections and the brush.

The central boss (Z, which forms the shaft bearing and is preferablycast integral with the receptacle and casing, is extended up into thereceptacle to an elevation above the normal level of the body of oil inthe receptacle thereby avoiding the necessity for any packing around theshaft to prevent leakage of the oil through the bearing and down theshaft.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In circuit controlling mechanism, the combination of a casing havinga cup-shaped upper end, and an annular row of insulated terminal platessecured to the bottom of said cup, with a controller shaft mounted inthe casing and projecting into the cup, an arm secured to the shaftwithin the cup, a brush movably mounted in one end of said arm, anadjusting screw-pin mounted in the other end of the arm, and a springcarried by said arm in engagement with the brush and with said pin.

2. In a circuit controlling mechanism, the combination of a casingstandard having a cup-shaped receptacle at its upper end which isadapted to hold a body of oil, an annular row of insulated terminalplates secured to the bottom of the receptacle, with a verticallydisposed controller shaft, a contact arm secured on the shaft andadapted to make contact with the submerged surfaces of said terminalplates and a boss on the axis of the receptacle forming a bearing forthe shaft and extending up into the receptacle above the normal surfacelevel of the body of oil contained therein.

3. In circuit controlling mechanism, the combination of a casing havinga cupshaped upper end, and an annular row of insulated terminal platessecured in the bottom of said cup, with a controller shaft mounted inthe casing and projecting into the cup, a disk secured to the end of theshaft within said cup and having an annular row of holes, abrush-carrying arm loosely embracing the shaft above said disk andhaving a pin fitting into the holes in said disk, and a nut screwingonto the end of said shaft against said arm.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. CHARLES SCHMIDT.

VVit-nesses E. L. THURSTON, J. M. VVooDwARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

